Gov. Barbour's Advice To The President: "Lead"

By Mike Hothi

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour (R) urged President Obama Tuesday to assume a leadership role when it comes to job creation.

“The President has got to lead. Congress cannot lead. 535 people can’t lead,” Barbour said. “The country needs … leadership that is directed at job creation in the private sector and economic growth. The policies of this administration are all in the opposite direction.” 

Barbour, speaking to the National Press Club, went on to point out that Bill Clinton was able to work with a Republican Congress to reform welfare and Ronald Reagan was able to work with a Democratic Congress for his entire Presidency.

“[Reagan] didn’t whine, go on TV and castigate [Congress]. He lead,” Barbour said.

Barbour’s D.C. appearance was aimed at highlighting a letter Barbour and the  Leadership of the Republican Governors Association sent to the co-chairs of the Super Committee identifying areas where state governments could partner with the federal government to cut costs.

The letter suggests that states should be given more flexibility with federal programs and that it is a bad idea to tax our way out of a spending problem.

“To raise tax rates would be a stupid thing to do. It would hurt the economy. Barack Obama said that. Everybody understands that raising tax rates hurts the economy,” Barbour explained.